Pneumatic stacker



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. F. LANDIS.

PNEUMATIC STAGKER. No. 567,031. Patented-Sept. 1, 18-96.

lnvenlor.

Witnesses.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. P. LANDIS. PNEUMATIG STAGKER.

No. 567,031. Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

1 7 6 I ,3 Z4 '3 5Q? Inventor.

ram? El; audio THE wtmms paws co, 24070411410 WASWNGTQN. a c

.3 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

F.- F LANDIS. PNEUMATIO STAGKBR.

Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

Witnesses.

v e n r 0 u A rm: norms PEYERS cc, PNDTO LITHO..WA$HINGTON. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK F. LANDIS, OF W'AYNESBOROUGH, PEI NSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,031, datedSeptember 1, 1896.

Application filed May 15, 1896. Serial No, 591,701. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK F. LANDIS, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at \Vaynesborough, in the county of Franklin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPneumatic Stackers; and I do hereby declare the followin g to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My said invention relates to pneumatic straw-stackers of the generalconstruction shown and described in several patents heretofore issued tome; and it consists particularly in the means for supporting andoperating the telescopic tube-section of the discharge-chute, thearrangement of the parts thereof, whereby said section is made revolubleon its axis as well as longitudinally adjustable, and in various othernovel details in the construction and arrangement, as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of referenceindicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of thedischarge-chute of a pneumatic stacker embodying my said invention; Fig.2, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a rear elevation,

partly in section, as seen when looking in the direction indicated bythc'arrows from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a cross-sectionas seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from thedotted line 4 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a similar View as seen when lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows 5 5 in same figure; Fig. 6, asimilar view as seen when looking in the direction of the arrows fromthe dotted line 6 6; Fig. 7, adetail cross-section 011 the dotted linev7 7 in Fig. 0; Fig. 8, a detail section looking upwardly from thedotted line 8 8 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 a detail view showing a modifiedform of the hood-operating devices.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the top of theseparator of the threshing-machine, to which the stacker is attached; A,the base or track plate'on which 579,438, except in the manner of andmeans used in mounting and operating the section E and the improvementsin details hereinafter particularly pointed out. A brief descriptiononly of many of said parts will therefore be sufficient to enable theconstruction and operation to be correctly understood, the detaileddescription being confined to said novel features.

The frame or top A of the separator and the base or track plate Athereon are, in main, of any usual or desired construction.

The turn-table B is an annular casting of suflicient size and strengthto support the stacker structure. It is mounted on the base A by meansof ball-bearings, asshown most clearlyin Fig. A flange a extends up fromthe inner edge of said base A, and a ring a with an overhanging top edgeis bolted thereon. On the inner face of the turn-table, midmay of itsheight, is formed a flange b, which divides the space between theoverhanging edge of the ring a and main face of the base A into twoball-races, in which balls I) are mounted, the diagonally oppositecorners of the races being formed rounded, as shown. By this means saidturn-table is supported on the balls in all directions,with theconsequent well-known advantages. Near the front of said turn-table, onbot-h sides thereof, are formed or secured vertical brackets orstandards 11 to which the portions of the frame which support thesections of the chute are are secured by set-screws or other suitablemeans. The vertical arm of each of said parts extends above saidpivot-bolts but a short distance and carries the pivotbolt 6 on whichthe lower ends of the yokes B and B are pivoted, one on each end of saidpivotbolts, on opposite sides of said arms. Said yoke B is formed with ahorizontal tubular top, in which a square shaft B is mounted, carrying;a sprocket-wheel b on each end, the hubs of said sprocket-wheelsextending to within the ends of said tubular top and forming thejournals on which said shaft is supported and operated. A crank b isformed on one end of said shaft for operating it, for a purpose to beexplained hereinafter. The yoke B is simply a curved bar and has asheave-frame 13 connected to its top in the center thereof. An arm B isalso secured thereto and extends up to a point slightly above the top ofthe yoke B, and is then bent into a horizontal position to form ahandle. A rack-bar b is pivoted to said arm near said bend, as shown,and extends forward over said yoke B, on which a catch or detent b isformed with which said rack-bar engages (see Fig. 8) to hold said yokein the desired adjustment, for the purpose which will be hereinaftermore fully explained.

The rope-guide B is mounted to rock on the center of the horizontal topof the yoke B, as shown, and is of the form and construction heretoforeused by me, or may be of any approved and suitable construction. A ring8*, having laterally-extendin g brackets 12 on its lower side, withgudgeons formed on their extremities, is pivotally connected at its topwith the front end of said rope-guide on the pivot-bolt b and saidgudgeons on its lower corners are mounted in perforations in ears I),formed on the lower sides of the horizontal branch of the angle-arms Btance from the pivot-bolt b to the pivotal connection of the rope-guidewith the horizontal top of the yoke B is substantially the same as thedistance between the pivot-bolt b and the gudgeons on the lower cornersof the brackets 5 The frame thus formed by the yoke 13, the ring 13*,the rope-guide B and the angle-arms B are all supported from thepivot-bolts b and winch-cord B and are yielding in the direction of thechute or discharge-pipe, and allow all other parts which are elevated orlowered by the winch-cord to be uniformly supported by the chains E andropes E regardless of the slight variations in the length thereofconsequent upon wear or the variations in temperature. The winch cord orcable B is attached at its front end to the front of the rope-guide Band at its other end to said winch G, forming the means for elevatingand lowering the chute or discharge-pipe and supporting it at whateverelevation desired. Brace-rods (3 tie the front standards 11 and the rearstandards 6 together, being mounted at the front ends on The disone endof the pivot-bolts and secured to said rear standard by being insertedthrough an eye therein with a nut on their outer ends or in any othersuitable manner. The braces 13 are preferably formed of tubing becauseof its lightness and strength, but may be of other suitable form ormaterial, if desired. Their lower ends are securely mounted in thesockets in the parts B as before stated, and their forward ends extendto a point somewhat in front of the front end of the section D of thechute at an angle which will bring them to points opposite the axis ofsaid section. On their front ends are mounted sheave-frames B by meansof a socket formed in the center of each of said frames, in which thefront end of the appropriate brace is secured. Said two sheave-framesare joined together at the top and bottom by means of cross bars orstraps 13, thus forming a substantially rectangular frame. A pair ofsheaves B are mounted in each of said sheave-frames, one above and onebelow the rods or braces B This pivoted structure, consisting of thebraces, sheave-frames, and connecting-straps, serves, through the meansto be presently described, to support the outer end of the dischargetube or chute from the top of the yoke B and winch to which said yoke isconnected.

The section 0 of the discharge tube or chute connects the pipe leadingfrom the exhaust or blow fan with the main section D, and is composed ofsections flexibly connected to telescope or fold one over the other inthe well-known manner. The section D of said chute is of the commontubular form and needs no special description. Its rear end is mountedin and supported by the ring B and fits over the outer end of thesection 0. The telescoping section E of said chute slides upon the outersurface of the section D, and its inner end rests in an annular frame orring E, and near its forward end a yoke E is connected therewith. Saidring E is formed with radially-extending brackets 011 its four corners,(see Fig. 4,) and in suitably-formed seats in the lower brackets therear ends of braces or rods E are secured by setscrews, as shown, orotherwise. Said braces extend forward and are secured at their forwardends to the yoke E in seats provided therefor near its ends. Brace-rodsE extend from ears formed on the upper brackets of ring E to and connectwith said yoke at or near the points of connection with the braces E Atthe point where said section or tube E rests in said yoke it issurrounded by an angle-iron hoop e, the flange of which rests in groovesin the faces of small rollers e, one of which is mounted in a suitablehousing formed in said yoke near each end thereof. A strap 6 extendsover said tube E, connecting one end of the yoke with the other, andthus securing said tube from being dislodged from its position therein.

Said strap 6 may be of metal or simply a leather strap fastened to oneend of the yoke, passing over the tube and buckled to the other end, theconnection being such that, while the tube is held securely in position,yet it will be permitted to revolve freely on said rollers in said yokewhen desired. Sockets are formed in the brackets on the top side of thering E, in which standards 6 are mounted. Connected to each of saidstandards is one end of a sprocket-chain E, which extends back under thesprocket-wheel b on the appropriate end of the shaft B up and over saidsprocket-wheel, with which it engages, and forward a distance at leastequal to thelength of the longitudinal movement of the section E to thedesired point, where it is joined to a rope E which passes down over thetop sheave E1 on the appropriate side of the tube, down and under thelower sheave of the pair and back to the lower side of the ring E, whereit is secured to the bracket on the proper side thereof. A belt is thusformed on each side of the tube, which is connected to both the upperand lower corners of said ring E, its intermediate portions passing overthe driving or operating wheel on the shaft supported in bearings at apoint in the rear of said ring, and the sheaves 19 supported at a pointin front of said ring. By this means the rotation of saidsprocket-wheels 19 through said shaft B and crank b thereon operates tomove the frame composed of the parts E, E E and E which carries therevoluble telescoping section E in or out, as desired, the rods Epreferably passing through and sliding in ways formed on the lowerinside corners of the sheave-frames B (See Fig. 5.) Said sheave-framesand the pivoted structure of which they form the outer end are alsosupported by said chain and rope belts, as well as the sliding framewhich carries said tube-section E. Said frame and tube-section are sosupported by this arrangement that the outer end of the structure ispractically balanced; that is, the weight of said outer end being onsaid belts tends to pull back upon theupper side of the ring E andforward on its lower side, which has an elevating tendency on the outerend of the frame, of which said ring constitutes the rear end, whichcarries the telescoping section and hood. As said frame is extended,increasing the strain,

the force which tends to elevate said outer tated by the followingmeans: On its side,

near its rear end, a sheave-frame E is secured, in which a pair ofsheaves e are mounted. On the top of the ring E another sheaveframe isformed, in which a pair of sheaves e are mounted. At about the point ofconnection between the ropes and chains E E a cross-bar E is connectedat each end to opposite links of said chains. A pair of sheaves 6mounted in appropriate housings, are secured to said cross-bar. At apoint in front of said sheave-frame E a rope E starts and extends backand over the top one of the sheaves 6 then around the tube-section E tothe nearest one of the sheaves 6 then around said sheave and back to theappropriate sheave I), carried by the sheave-frame B on the yoke B,around said sheave and forward to and over both sheaves e on thecrossbar E back to the other sheave Z9 in the frame B around sheave,back to the other sheave a, over said sheave, down and around the otherside of the tube-section E and over the other sheave e to the point ofbeginning, both ends being preferably connected at this point to meansfor operatingt-he hood, as will be presently described. It will thus beseen that a pull upon one branch of the rope E at any point willdrawagainst one of the sheaves 6 toward one of the sheaves e and rotate saidtube-section E to bring said sheaves toward each other until the desiredpoint has been reached, while a pull in the other direction will reversethe operation, thus permitting said section to be rotated in whateverdirection and to whatever point is desired.

The hood or deflector F is of substantially the same construction asthat shown in my Patent No. 537,691, being composed of sections pivotedon a pintle F and adapted to fold over each other, a coiled spring(shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines) being mounted on said pintle tonormally hold said sections distended. To the outer section is secured atoothed segment F which is concentric with said pintle, with which arack-bar F engages. Said rack-bar is composed of a very thin metal stripand supported on the side of the section E in guides f being held intoengagement by a roller f, mounted in a suitable housing f near the pointof juncture with said hood. This metal strip passes under said roller,through a notch in the hoop e, through said guides f back alongside saidsection E, to the rope E to the ends of which it is connected in anydesired manner. Said rope E thus affords the means for drawing back therack-bar F and thereby folding up the hood sections, as well as themeans for revolving the tube-section E. By drawing back the yoke 13 saidrope and rack-bar are also drawn back, as will be readily understood,and the hood folded up to the desired degree, at which point said yokeis secured by the engagement of the rack-bar b with the detent b on thetop of the yoke B. (See Fig. 8.) To unfold said hood, it is onlynecessary to release said rack-bar b and permit the spring to unfold itto the desired degree and reengage said rack-bar and detent to secure itthere.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modified form of the hood-contracting devicewherein an arm F is rigidly secured to the end of the pintle F, and acord or rope connects its outer end with the ends of the rope E passingover a sheave), appropriately mounted in a hous' ing on the side of thetube section E; but I prefer the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, asit is non-elastic and non flexible; but, as will be readily seen, bothforms make an operating device for folding up the hood which in no wayinterferes with the revolving of the telescoping tube-section E, whichis an essential feature in this stacker.

The winch G is or may be of any form found suitable for the purpose,that shown being substantially a well-known form, such as is shown in myapplication above named. It is supported on the rear side of theturn-table B in hearings on the standards If, and is operated in thewell-known manner.

The operation is as follows: The stacker structure as a whole iselevated or lowered from the winch G through the cable 13, the framepivoted to the rope-guide B the belts composed of the chains and ropes Eand E and other frames and supporting devices described. \Vhen it isdesired to extend the section E of the chute, the crank b is turned torotate the shaft 13 and sprocket-wheels b in the direction required tooperate the belts composed of the chains and ropes E and E to draw thering E and the frame connected therewith, in which said section ismounted, outwardly, and when it is desired to draw it in, or shorten thechute, the operation is re versed. \Vhen it is desired to turn the mouthof the hood or deflector in either direction, the section E, whichcarries it, is rotated to secure the desired result by pulling on therope E, as before described. The hood is folded up and allowed todistend by the manipulation of the yoke 13 and rack-bar N, as beforedescribed. As said longitudinal or rotary adjustments of said section Eare effected the various ropes and belts are self-adjusting, so thatthey are under like tension at all times. Thus the cross-bar beingcarried by the chains E, as said chains move in adjusting said sectionso does said cross-bar which carries the sheaves b, 011 which is aportion of the rope E in or out, as the movement may be, and takes up orpays out said rope as required to maintain its tension. By thisconstruction and arrangement a stacker is provided possessed of manyadvantages over others in use,among which may be mentioned A rotaryadjustment is secured by which the mouth of the deflector may be pointedin any desired direction without adding the weight of the extra parts tothe outer end of the chute, necessitating the use of stronger supportingand operating devices with the consequent added expcnse of building, andat the same time the longitudinal adjustments are in no wise interferedwith. Both sections of the chute are entirely relieved of all strain,except of their own weight, as they lie in the supporting-frames, whichreceive all the strain from the tension of the ropes and belts used insupporting and manipulating the stacker. Either of the sections D or Emay be entirely removed without disturbing the supporting-frames, orraising and lowering or telescoping devices, by simply disconnecting thecords which fold up the hood. Thus I am able to use unusually lightmaterial and secure a stacker capable of more convenient and readyadjustment, with the consequent well-known advantages.

While I have illustrated but one means of rendering the telescopingsection of the chute revoluble, it will be understood, of course, that Ido not limit myself to the specific means shown, but regard my inventionas including, broadly, a revoluble telescoping section of adischarge'chute, regardless of the specific means used to effect theadjustment.

IIavin g thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pneumatic straw-stacker chute provided with a section which isextensible and which is also revoluble around its axis, sub stantiallyas set forth.

2. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination with the base andnon-extensible section of the chute, of a revolubly-mounted extensiblesection, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination, of the base, theflexible section, the non-extensible section connected therewith, and arevolubly-monnted telescoping section thereon, and means for revolvingthe same.

4. 111 a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination, of a turn-table, thelower end of the stacker-chute connected thereto, arevolublymountedextensible section having a flexible hood on its outer end, and a singlemeans for folding said hood and revolving said section, substantially asset forth.

5. In apneumatic stacker, the combination of a revolubly-mountedtelescoping section carrying a flexible or foldable hood on its outerend, and means for revolving said section, which means is also connectedwith and operates the hood-folding device, substantially as set forth.

6. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of a revolubly-mountedextensible section, which section is mounted in and carried by aslidable frame, and said frame, substantially as set forth.

7. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination, of the main portions of thechute, a revoluble extensible section mounted in a frame, said frame,means for supporting and means for sliding it, substantially as setforth.

8. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination, of the main portionsof the chute,-

an extensible section revolubly mounted in and supported by a slidableframe, said frame, and the supporting and telescoping devices connectedthereto, substantially as set forth.

9. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the turn-table, the mainsections of the chute mounted thereon in a suitable supporting-frame,said frame, forwardly-extending braces or rods pivoted thereto, sheavesin suitable frames on the forward ends of said braces, a slidable frame,belts connected to said slidabl'e frame for operating it, and passingover said sheaves on the outer end of said pivoted braces or rods forsupporting it, and a tube-section mounted in said slidable frame,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, in a pneumatic stacker, of the supporting-frame,the chutesections, and the slidable frame composed of the ring, E, theyoke, E the rods, E and braces E and the section, E, mounted in andcarried by said frame, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, in a pneumatic stacker, of the revolubly-mountedsection, E, a supporting-frame consisting of a ring which surrounds itslower end, a yoke and strap which surround its outer end, and brace-rodswhich rigidly secure said ring and yoke together, a flanged hoop on saidtube-section at the point where it rests in said yoke, and rollers withgrooved faces mounted in said yoke, the flange of said hoop resting inthe grooves of said rollers, substantially as set forth.

12. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination, of the supporting-frame,the yoke, B, forming a part thereof, the sprocket-wheels on the shaftcarried by said yoke, the sheaveframes, B carried on the forward ends ofrods pivoted at their rear ends to said frame, the slidable framemounted to slide in ways in said sheave-frames, the chain and rope beltsconnected at opposite ends to opposite sides of the rear end of saidslidable frame, and passing over said sprocket-wheels and the sheaves insaid sheave-frames, and the tubular sections mounted in said frames,substantially as set forth.

13. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of an outer slidablesupporting-frame consisting of two right-angled triangles composed ofthe parts such as the ring, E, and rods, E", and, E means for supportingthe structure from a point in the rear of said frame consisting of beltswhich pass over sheaves located in front of the ring, E, one end of eachbeing connected to the lower side, and the other to the top side of saidring, the points of attachment being variable to different distancesapart, and said sheaves, substantially as set forth.

14. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the outer slidable frame,the ring, E, forming the base thereof, the adjustable standards, emounted in the upper corners of said ring, and the supporting devicesconnected thereto, substantially as set forth.

15. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination, of the main section of thechute, a revolubly-mounted extensible section thereon, and means forrevolving said section consisting of a rope connected to one sidethereof and passing around the same in each direction' and over suitablestationary parts, whereby pulling on one or the other of the branches ofsaid rope will revolve said section in the desired direction,substantially as set forth.

16. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination, of the main section of thechute, a revoluble section mounted in the frame of which the ring, E",is the base or lower end, said frame, a sheave-frame secured near thelower end of said tube-section, E, another sheaveframe formed in the topof said ring, E, sheaves mounted in each of said frames, a rope passingfrom a point behind said ring over the sheaves in the frame on its top,and down around said tube-section in each direction to the sheaves inthe frame on its side, over said sheaves, and a retaining device towhich the ends are connected at a point in front thereof, substantiallyas set forth.

17. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the main section, therevolubly-mounted extensible section thereon, and the rope,

E, for operating it, which rope passes from a point on the side of saidsection near its rear end, over a sheave on its side, up over a sheave,a on the ring, E, back over asheave in the frame, B forward over thesheaves, e, on the cross-bar, E", back over the other sheave in theframe, B forward over the other sheave, 0 down over the other side ofthe tube and over another sheave alongside the first, to the point ofbeginning and there attached suitably, and said sheaves and supportingdevices, all said parts combined substantially as set forth.

18. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination, of the base, theturn-table, the frame composed of the yoke, B, the ring, B, the parts, Band the rope-guide, B pivoted together and mounted on a pivot, saidyoke, B, and ring, B, being arranged to maintain a substantiallyparallel relation to each other, the stacker-chute mounted in andsupported from said structure, and the winch and cable for supportingand adjusting it, substantially as set forth.

19. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination, of the main section of thechute, the revoluble extensible section thereon, a hood or deflectorcarried on the outer end thereof made up of sections adapted to foldtogether from a common pintle, a spring for normally holding saidsections distended, a toothed segment on the outer end of said pintle,and a rack-bar mounted in suitable guides on the side of said tube andengaging with said IIO toothed segment, its rear end being connected tomeans for drawing it back, whereby said may be operated, substantiallyas set forth. 110 0d may be folded, substantially as set forth. Intestimony whereof I affix my signature 20. In a pneumatic stacker, thecombinain presence of two Witnesses. 5 tion, of the main section of thechute, the hood chute and connected to means by which it 10 on the outersection made up of folding sec- FRANK LANDIS' tions secured on a pintle,a toothed segment \Vitnesses: on said pintle, a rack-bar engaging withsaid T. S. CUNNINGHAM,

segment and extending back alongside said S. B. RINEHART.

